Diplomat video a finalist in state literacy contest

January 9, 2014

Diplomat Elementary School students submitted a video entry in the Florida Department of Education's Celebrate Literacy Week PSA contest and learned during the holiday break that their entry was selected one of three finalists in the elementary level statewide.

It is the first time students at the school have submitted an entry in the annual contest.

"We're real excited about it," said Diplomat Principal Mara Vertrees. "We were invited to attend the awards ceremony at Kennedy Space Center next week, Jan. 16. If we win, the school receives $1,000 which will go to our media center."

Media center librarian Michelle Harclerode put the video together while working with Diane Mince who teaches the fifth grade gifted program class. Vertrees, Harclerode and two students will attend the awards ceremony next week.

"Every year we have a school theme," said Vertrees. "This year's is on superheroes and super readers, which is perfect. That's where the idea for the video came from."

All of the state finalist videos can be viewed online. The public service announcement (PSA) video the class entered is called "Reading Boy and Acceleration Girl" and promotes reading to accelerate education.